Azernews.Az

By Amina Nazarli

Azerbaijan has signed a number of bilateral agreements on cooperation in customs with the CIS countries.

The signing ceremony took place in the framework of the 65th meeting of the heads of the customs bodies of the CIS countries in Baku on June 14.

The State Customs Committee of Azerbaijan signed agreements with customs authorities of Russia and Kyrgyzstan.

The protocol between the State Customs Committee of Azerbaijan and the Federal Customs Service of Russia was signed by Aydin Aliyev and Chairman of the FCS Vladimir Bulavin on the organization of the exchange of preliminary information on goods and vehicles transported between the two countries.

The protocol between the State Customs Committee of Azerbaijan and the State Customs Service under the Government of Kyrgyzstan on cooperation in the field of professional training and professional development of personnel was signed by Aliyev and Head of the Customs Service of Kyrgyzstan Azamat Suleymanov.

The 65th meeting discussed issues of improving the legal framework in the customs sphere, and transit cargo transportation.

Speaking at the event, Head of the State Customs Committee Aydin Aliyev said that unrecognized states cannot be admitted to international organizations.

The discussion of this issue at today's event, according to Aliyev, is due to the fact that it will be raised at the WTO meeting next month.

“This issue is one of the main issues at today's meeting. Our position and position of Russia is that unrecognized states cannot be admitted to international organizations,” he said.

At the meeting, the heads of the customs bodies of the CIS countries also approved the standard procedure for applying the risk management system in the activities of customs authorities.

The document includes the main goals, responsibilities, principles and elements of the risk management system, risk analysis facilities, risk minimization mechanisms, and the participation of customs authorities in the preparation of draft risk indicators and profiles before and after customs control.

In addition, within the framework of the meeting, a number of amendments to agreements on cooperation and mutual assistance in customs issues, on the procedure for customs clearance and customs control of goods moved between CIS countries, and on the order of transit through the territories of the CIS countries were reviewed and approved.

During the meeting, a new chairman and executive secretary of the Committee of Heads of Law Enforcement Departments of the Council of Heads of Customs Services of the CIS countries was also approved and a number of other issues were considered.

In conclusion, the meeting participants decided that the 66th meeting of the Council of the CIS countries will be held in the fourth quarter of this year in Kyrgyzstan.

Leaders and representatives of the customs bodies of Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan took part in the meeting.

Earlier on June 13, President Ilham Aliyev received heads of Customs Services of Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Chairman of the Executive Committee - Executive Secretary of CIS Sergei Lebedev.

President Aliyev emphasized an important role of customs services in the development of countries, including in ensuring budget revenues and general economic development dynamics.

The head of state said serious reforms have been carried out in the field of customs in Azerbaijan in the past years. He noted that despite a slight decline in trade, the effective implementation of these reforms allowed to improve the collection of customs duties. The President underlined the significance of bilateral experience exchange.

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Amina Nazarli is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @amina_nazarli

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